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The art of sustainable gardening

In terms of gardening, the idea of sustainability goes hand in hand with the concept of environmental responsibility - doing things that heal rather than injure, help rather than destroy, and at the heart of this whole idea is the notion of doing no harm, but rather doing something positive and helpful.

Photograph by: Fotolia
, Postmedia News

It's good to know what we mean when we talk about "sustainability" when it comes to gardening.

By definition, sustainability means something that can be kept going, maintained for a long time, something that endures.

But in terms of gardening, the idea of sustainability goes hand in hand with the concept of environmental responsibility - doing things that heal rather than injure, help rather than destroy, and at the heart of this whole idea is the notion of doing no harm, but rather doing something positive and helpful. This approach also includes choosing materials that do not pollute or weaken nature's systems, but complement and enhance our environment.

For me, the word "sustainability" is also intrinsically connected to beauty. After all, isn't that what we all want to sustain - beauty? And, of course, beauty is not possible without health and vitality and, well, you might as well add enthusiasm and joy.

Yes, all this thinking is deeply entrenched in the desire to create beautiful, sustainable, healthy gardens. That is why the theme for this supplement is Lasting Beauty - in other words, beauty that can be sustained.

But it all needs to filter down into practical application. And that involves products and techniques - structures, tools, materials that add lasting value and good gardening practices that produce vigorous growth and regeneration and rewarding yields.

Gardeners have mostly always been ahead of the curve on this. They were the first to stop using harmful chemicals, they are the ones who know the true nature of common pests, such as slugs and aphids, and how to deal with them, and they are well aware of the time and energy it takes to maintain challenging landscape features, such as lawns and hedges and structures that don't stand the test of time.

You will find in this supplement that I have focused on garden ideas and products and techniques that are "sustainable" - producing lasting beauty as well as long-lasting reliability and creative innovation.

I have looked at natural ways to enrich soil and safe ways to enrich plants using organic fertilizers made from natural ingredients found in nature.

You will find quality products featured that will make your life as a gardener easier. These products are also made to last, which means they should save you money in the long run.

But most important are the tips and suggestions that encourage you to garden in a way that produces all the benefits of sustainability, things like choosing top-rated plants, getting them in the right place, attracting birds, bees and butterflies, managing water efficiently, and growing plants in ways to maximize fun and rewards, while minimizing time-consuming effort and eliminating waste.

Hope you enjoy this Lasting Beauty spring gardening feature in the premiere issue of Home and Garden. But most of all, I hope your garden ends up looking even better this summer for all your effort.

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In terms of gardening, the idea of sustainability goes hand in hand with the concept of environmental responsibility - doing things that heal rather than injure, help rather than destroy, and at the heart of this whole idea is the notion of doing no harm, but rather doing something positive and helpful.

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